Mercury Meta One - Diesel Powered Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV)

The Mercury Meta One, representing what Ford Motor Company says is its most advanced scientific research concept to date, showcases an array of new technologies that may appear on Ford vehicles in the near future. One of the most significant is a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain and exhaust after-treatment system that, according to Ford, makes this the world’s first diesel-powered Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV).

The Meta One concept employs a twin-turbocharged, 2.7-liter V-6 diesel that’s based on the engine Ford builds with Peugeot for the European Jaguar S-Type. Combined with an electric motor/generator integrated into the transmission, the Meta One develops 248 hp and an astounding 431 lbs-ft of torque. This combination yields fuel economy about 30 percent better than a V-6 Ford Freestyle, placing this vehicle in range of a 27-30 mpg combined city/highway rating.

To achieve its impressive emissions levels, the Meta One’s engine is calibrated to run on a biomass-based Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel developed in partnership with BP, a move that minimizes the vehicle’s overall emission of carbon dioxide. It also uses an exhaust after-treatment system that injects urea – a non-toxic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen – into the exhaust gas. Ford has been developing a urea injection system for some time and similar systems are already in use on heavy-duty commercial vehicles in Europe. First used by Ford on its ULEV II diesel Focus prototype in 2001, this system allows the urea to decompose into ammonia that converts NOx into non-toxic nitrogen and removes unburned hydrocarbon emissions.

An obstacle to broad implementation is that the system relies on an on-board supply of urea to successfully reduce emissions. No infrastructure is in place yet to supply urea to American drivers, and while emissions reductions are impressive, ensuring that vehicles don’t run out of urea is of particular concern to the Environmental Protection Agency. 

A host of electronic gadgetry is contained in the futuristic interior, including wireless Internet technology, customizable electronic displays, and a navigation system with real-time traffic information. It also incorporates lane departure warning and Collision Mitigation by Braking systems. The exterior implements recent Mercury brand design cues, namely horizontal chrome grille bars and slab-sided headlights. The concept establishes the look of Mercury’s upcoming variant of the Ford Freestyle crossover SUV. While that vehicle is set to go into production in 2007, no such green light exists as yet for the many advanced technologies featured in the Meta One.